Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 11
Pronouns and Antecedents
A pronoun is a word used in place of one or more nouns. For a pronoun to make
sense, a reader or listener must know what noun it replaces. The word that a
pronoun stands for is called its antecedent. The antecedent clarifies the meaning of
the pronoun. The pronoun may appear before or after its antecedent. Sometimes the
antecedent is in a different sentence.
examples
“Someday I will be a dancer,” Debbie Allen thought. (Debbie Allen is the
antecedent of I.)
The Tonkinese is a blend of two breeds of cat, but it looks more like a Siamese
than a Burmese. (Tonkinese is the antecedent of it.)
Did you remember to buy the mushrooms? Yes, I bought them this morning.
(Mushrooms is the antecedent of them.)
EXERCISE 1
Identifying Pronouns and Their Antecedents in Literature
Identify the personal pronouns in the following literature passage. Next to each,
write the antecedent of the pronoun.
Walt was born a thousand miles or so down the Yukon, in a trading-post below the
Ramparts. After his mother died, his father and he came on up the river, step by
step, from camp to camp, till now they are settled down on the Mazy May Creek
in the Klondike country. Last year they and several others had spent much toil and
time on the Mazy May, and endured great hardships; the creek, in turn, was just
beginning to show up its richness and to reward them for their heavy labor. But
with the news of their discoveries, strange men began to come and go through
the short days and long nights, and many unjust things they did to the men who
had worked so long upon the creek.
from “The King of Mazy May,” page 236
Jack London
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LEVEL I, UNIT 2
Exceeding the Standards: Grammar & Style
© EMC Publishing, LLC
1.
6.
2.
7.
3.
8.
4.
9.
5.
10.
EXERCISE 2
Understanding Pronouns and Antecedents
Complete each of the following sentences by supplying a pronoun that agrees with
the underlined antecedent.
1. Our class decided to start a newspaper that
could print once a week.
2. Suzanne and Eddie offered to cover sports since
always go to the games.
3. If there is action in
add excitement.
, photographs
4. Shelby said she would bring
the next soccer game.
camera to
5. Mr. Thompson, the music teacher, gave Janet a copy of the concerts
had scheduled for the month.
6. We wanted to have something funny in
paper.
7. I could draw cartoons, but Carole’s pictures are funnier than
.
8. Animals and pets would be Phil’s area because
really interest him.
9. Amy planned to write an article about
trip to Canada.
10. Everyone will participate, so the paper will include all of
.
© EMC Publishing, LLC
Exceeding the Standards: Grammar & Style
LEVEL I, UNIT 2
39
EXERCISE 3
Understanding Pronouns and Antecedents
Write a sentence using each pair of words as an antecedent and a pronoun. Be sure
that the pronoun and its antecedent agree.
1. poets, they
2. people, their
3. Elizabeth, her
4. choice, it
5. me, Victoria
6. scarf, mine
7. Buddy, him
8. house, ours
9. Mr. Kendall, you
10. nature, its
EXERCISE 4
Using Pronouns and Antecedents in Your Writing
Write a short journal entry describing what you did yesterday, without using
pronouns. Then rewrite the entry, replacing repeated nouns with pronouns that
agree with their antecedents. In the revised entry, underline the pronouns and circle
the antecedents. Use your own sheet of paper.
40
LEVEL I, UNIT 2
Exceeding the Standards: Grammar & Style
© EMC Publishing, LLC